A86 GEOLOGY OF OHIO. 
and generally every advantage can be taken of the dip for drainage and 
easy delivery of the coal to the mouth of mines. The general dip is to 
the south, but this is locally modified; indeed, the strata all through the 
east half of Washington county are more or less undulating. At one 
point in the township the level line or line of no dip was found to be 
north 60° east. This would give the dip at this point south 30° east. 
Petrolewm.—Several years since this township laid claim to the posses- 
sion of good oil territory. On Pawpaw Creek several alluring little wells 
were obtained, enough to quicken the pulse of the oil fever. That there 
is considerable oil in the region there is no doubt; and if the price would 
justify small wells, the Pawpaw region might be worked. Among the 
many minor undulations which have caused subterranean fissures, and 
‘thus made it possible for the oil, probably in the form of vapor, to rise 
and accumulate, one such undulation, as an anticlinal, probably crosses 
Pawpaw Creek in lots 55 and 145 and in that neighborhood. Most of 
these undulations are so slight as not to make their detection on the 
surface possible except by a very careful instrumental survey. Toward 
the north line of the township, on the Hast Fork, some quite deep wells 
were bored and a little oil obtained, but not in remunerating quantities. 
Salt.—It is almost certain that brine of good strength may be obtained 
almost any where in this township by boring wells. On the West Fork, 
in Aurelius township, and in Noble county, brine has been obtained in 
the oil wells. In Noble county salt works have been established. Should 
the making of salt be. found a profitable industry, I have no doubt that 
immense quantities could be made in Salem. Fuel at the minimum 
cost could be obtained for the evaporation of the brine. 
AURELIUS TOWNSHIP. 
This township lies directly north of Salem, on the West Fork of Duck 
Creek. It differs from Salem little in the general character of its soil, 
and the geological features are essentially the same. The lower Salem 
coal, “the limestone seam,” was no where seen in good development, and 
probably it thins out to the northward; but the upper and larger seam 
of coal is to be found. On the land of Hugh Jackson, near the south 
line of the township, this coal has been opened and mined. Where our 
measurement was taken the seam paesented the following structure : 
Et. In 
COB eee OU UE OU CE CL ERe RURDUR ISLE GEL) Ca 2011 Se al Rats A ee A Ig) 
HH POE CLA dees wescsiste aoe bal idurtne cotta staan mun lnmamameneanoctinaacnt 13000 ep9gb> 650 GoodHe sedoad 3 4 
COabie estate cateaed he ceolvs a amith s Mugu aren taMm aig wn s/ US sea cu tae Aaa Cee Re ean 3.4 
_ (See Map XI., No. 18.) 
_ This is an unusual thickness of the middle clay, and makes the mining 
of the coal difficult. Further north the lower bench of coal attains a 
